Discliamer: I own no part of White Collar (obviously, I just kinda wanted to write that, I see it before fics everywhere hehe)


Chapter 1


The juvenile looked at him, blank faced. His posture was open and his simile friendly. He was a canvas ready to paint whatever picture was required. He was a lie. This particular lie also happened to be hand cuffed to a desk in an FIB questioning room.

Agent Burke leaned back in his seat, resting his hands casually on the sides the of the chair. He let the seconds draw out as the two stared at each other. The teen seemed oblivious to the sweating tactic, posed in a module of comfort and mild boredom.

"How old are you anyway?" Burke asked. The boy couldn't have been more than seventeen. He was of a lean build, his hair was short, brown and slightly ruffled at the top. Despite his air of sophistication, his striking blue eyes couldn't appear more young, painfully young. He shouldn't be here, mixed up in all this.

The criminal looked around the room, his gaze skimmed over the door and the two-way mirror, covering one of the four bare walls. He smiled.

"Twenty." The reply rolled of his lips. Quick and easy.

"No."

"What do you mean 'No'?" The teen's answer was dripping in poorly disguised sarcasm. He liked to dance his way around a question. The agent wanted him to sweat? Two could play at this game.

"Try again, Neal. What's your real age?" Peter Burke asked, hoping that his clam, causal voice and use of the Neal's name could coax the correct answer.

Neal looked at him, his posture hunched inwards, appearing smaller. He tilted his head to the side.

"Thirteen."

"Neal, this is a simple question that requires a simple answer. The longer you sit there and lie, the longer we'll have to keep you here."

Neal sighed, straightened in his seat and squared his shoulders. He looked directly at Agent Burke.

"I'm seventeen years old." He said.

Peter nodded and smiled. At least they were getting somewhere. "Okay, good, and where are your parents?"

The teen shrugged. So much for progress.

The thing is, this can't be the right person. The criminal they were tracking was a master at his craft. He was a conman and a forger at the top of his game. Dozens of cracked safes, forged master pieces, and stolen jewellery were left in his wake. Code Name: James Bond. Not a seventeen-year-old boy. Yet all the evidence pointed towards this kid. They caught him mid heist. In tow with one 'Matthew Keller'. Keller had a record, he was in the system, big time. The FBI had been tracking the heist. Four stake outs resulting in one, foot chase. Dozens of agents involved. But the illustrious killer, Keller was a little faster on his feet than his younger, presumed, partner. He left Neal alone, with the jewellery still on his person. Red handed. The two had to have been working together. Keller, though he may some big-stuff criminal, wasn't known for the nuanced work the FBI had attributed to Mr Bond.

Burke looked at Neal again. He acted well, but it was clear in Peter's eyes how much work was going into his persona. Neal sat, tall and confident, yet open. Simultaneously presenting himself to appear in control and innocent. This kid was good. Maybe it wasn't so hard to believe that he could be Bond after all. If they could just get some damn answers he would know.


"How's the questioning going boss?"

The question came from Diana Barrigan, one of the FIB White Collar divisions top, most efficient agents. In one hand she carried coffees and in the other she held a thin file.

"Not so good." Peter sighed. He reached out his hand, gratefully accepting the coffee. "Any luck on your front?"

"Actually, yes. His full name is Neal Caffrey. He doesn't have any conviction records because he's never been caught before. Though, the government does have a file on him. Apparently he's in the foster system. Or was, before he ran." Diana reported, flicking through the paper she was holding.

"Well he's guilty we know that. We've got enough evidence to prove it. I just didn't think he'd be so young." Burke stopped.

"Does his file say how old he is?" He questioned, curious.

"Yeah, he's only sixteen. Can you believe that?"

Sixteen. Not seventeen.

Burke turned and started to walk back towards the interrogation room. He put his hand on the door handle, it opened. The door was unlocked. The desk which Neal had previously occupied was empty. The cuffs lay open and discarded on the table. Hanging limply from the door's key hole was a twisted paper clip.

Well, if there was any doubt that Neal Caffrey was the criminal code named 'Bond' it was gone now. Along with Neal Caffrey.


"He's gone."

"What do you mean gone? People don't just disapparate into thin air! He's a boy not a wizard, damn it!"

"We got him on the surveillance footage walking out sir-".

"And no one stopped him?" Burke interrupted the younger agent.

"You are trained FBI agents! He is a sixteen-year-old boy and our prime suspect! You let him just walk out of here? So…. stop standing around and start tracking him down!"

The room moved in a rush. Agent Burke sighed resting his forehead on the tips of his fingers and his elbow against his stomach. How did Neal escape from an occupied FBI headquarters? Surely their security is stronger than that! And he's just a kid. How could he let this happen? They had to find him, fast.

Agent Jones strode in through the elevator doors. "Sir, looks like he acquired himself a new hat and jacket, skipped two blocks over and hotwired a car."

"Do we have the number plate?" Asked Burke.

"Yes sir, it's all on the security footage."

"Good, put out a APB. Jones, Diana, with me. Let's go."


Burke drummed is fingers methodically on his steering wheel. New York traffic sucked. He still couldn't process it. The criminal he had been chasing for a good part of the last few years; a kid. It didn't seem right. But he won't be caught off guard by Neal's age again. Caffrey, despite his youth, was most certainly the man they were looking for. As such, he had proven himself to be cunning, intelligent and a formidable opponent. If they wanted to find him, they'd have to do it fast or he'd truly be gone. Peter doubted they'd get lucky enough to track down another heist of his in the near future. If they wanted Caffrey, they'd have to catch him now.

All the opinions Agent Burke formed about this man he had been tracking, the mysterious criminal living beyond the law, where blown to pieces. He was sixteen. How did he get into this business? Where's his family? He was so guarded, every action Neal took in the time he met with him, was a front. They could try him as an adult for this. It probably helped Neal's case that they recovered the jewellery he had stolen when they caught him. But that's to say nothing for his numerus other alleged crimes. Caffrey was broken. He needed help.

No. What was he thinking? This is Bond he was talking about. Does it matter how old he was? He committed crimes and should stand court like everyone else.

"Soooo…" Started Diana, from the passenger set. "James Bond is a kid."

Peter ran his hand over his face. "Don't remind me."

'Getaway car spotted on 58th street.' the radio spluttered. Burke changed gears.

"Let's go." He said veering down a street to the left, turning on the sirens. He had to admit he did like this part of the job. Peter harboured a well-hidden flare for the dramatic.


Neal ditched the car, on the side of the road, taking out a cell phone he found in the glove box. He had to get out of the city fast. Shit! What was he doing here? Running from the feds? He'd never been caught before. They knew his name, his crimes, everything. They would be looking for him. Especially that Agent Burke. Neal had the feeling that he was not one to give up easy.

And Keller.

Damn, Neal had almost forgotten about him. He was questioned by the feds. He'd think he talked. Crap. This was bad. This was very, very bad. He was still out there. What was the fastest way out of the city? Why did he ever get mixed up with those criminals? He should have known Keller didn't play by a code. Apparently honour isn't amongst all thieves. Panic started to rise in his throat as he paced. Calm down. Think. There's a way out. There's always a way out.

He could call Mozzie. Mozzie has contacts, he could organise some kind of transport. No, the FIB had security cameras all over that street, they would've seen which car he stole. The FIB could be in contact with the owner. There's a chance, however small, that they could track the cell.

He took out the battery and threw the phone back in the car. Maybe Mozzie was rubbing off on him. Maybe he was being paranoid. Well, that's kind of the same thing but this is the FBI he's dealing with. Best to be careful.

He looked back towards the car. Get what you need. Get out.

There wasn't much there, $18.50 in the glove box, a pair of sun glasses, a key chain and a box of half empty tick tacks. He put on the glasses and pocketed the money, the key chain and tic tacks. He didn't want to be recognised and hey, you never know what might come in handy.

"Freeze!"

Shit! As if this situation wasn't bad enough. At least he knew it wasn't one of Keller's guys. Those brutes wouldn't have the courtesy to issue a warning before they sent a bullet your way.

"Turn around slowly and put your hands against the car." Neal complied. The instructions, he saw, were being issued by a lean black man, dressed in a suit. He's with the FBI. Neal recognised him from his little stint at their office.

"Is there a problem here?" Neal asked, trying not to let his nerves show. He hated guns and most certainly didn't appreciate having one pointing towards him.

"Neal Caffrey you are under arrest, for forgery and theft." This time the voice came from behind him. He turned to see Agent Burke. "Good work, Jones." Burke said, to the agent with the gun.

"Peter, it's so good to see you! What has it been? 60, 70 minutes? You haven't aged a day!" Neal smirked. Better hide the nerves. Besides the teasing would put them on edge. And on edge people were more likely to make mistakes.

"Cut the crap Caffrey and put your hands on the car." Another Agent? Wow, they had really cracked out the big guns catching him. He turned to see a woman he recognised from the precinct earlier that day as well.

Okay, so he was surrounded. That's okay. There was still a way out. There was always a way out. Neal raised his arms and made a show of turning lowing them against the car. He felt the key chain click in his pocket. He could use it to pick the cuffs when –

"Check his pockets." Said Peter, as he walked closer.

So much for that idea. Neal thought, as one of the agents took out the key chain and stolen money.

Agent Burke looked almost sad, as he helped Neal into the back of his car.

"You have the right remain silent everything you say can and will be…." One of the agents started listing off his rights.

Neal hated to admit it, but this seemed pretty dim. Maybe there are some situations you can't cheat your way out of.


Neal, was quiet as they drove, focusing his attention on the passing scenery out the window. Neal had managed to put quite some distance between himself and the FBI building in his short getaway attempt. It was going to be a long drive back.

"Sir, the images of the stolen art just came though." Diana said, talking out her phone.

Stolen art. That sounds interesting. Neal leaned forward to see the picture currently displayed on her screen.

"I'll look at it when we get –" Burke started.

"Woah! That good! Really good, it could almost pass for the original." Neal interrupted.

The agents turned towards the recently apprehend kid. "What do you mean almost?"

"Well, obviously it's a forgery. The lightings a little off, along with the aging. Courbet's a 19th artist. None of his works are that well preserved." Neal stated.

Burke and Diana turned to each other eye-brows raised. They'll look to verify this when they got back to the precinct. If Neal proved right it'd be extremely helpful to their case.

Looks like there could be more than one way out after all.


Thanks for reading! XD I'd LOVE to hear what you think, so write a review (if ya want). This is my first fan-fiction, so if you have any advice or suggestions it would be much appreciated :D